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Women's Swim/Dive Update: Erin Himes

Erin Himes is about to take part in her final
college meet this week at the PCSC Championships. Before the event, which
begins Wednesday at East Los Angeles College, the senior swimmer reflects on
her four years for us:

Heading
into my final swim meet, I've thought a lot about how swimming has defined my
last four years at Pepperdine. Growing up, I never thought that swimming in
college would be something I'd be good enough to do and I really never wanted
to do it. As I got closer to the end of high school, my times started to drop
and I started to see collegiate swimming as a possibility. Pushed forward by a
coach who encouraged me to pursue college swimming as a way to find community,
I took an interest in Pepperdine.

The
minute I met Coach Nick, I was sold. Pepperdine, for me, was the whole package:
a close swim team, a beautiful location, quality academics and the opportunity
to study abroad despite being a student-athlete. Here, I knew I wouldn't miss
out on being a college student just because I was an athlete.

While
that's ultimately been very true, I am continually amazed by how huge of a role
swimming has played in my life. I did get the chance to study abroad for a summer,
to go on Project Serve trips and to form close relationships with my
professors, but the impact of being a student-athlete has been far more
fulfilling than I could have imagined. I've gained years of wisdom and insight
from the greatest and most engaged coaching staff I've ever encountered. And
I've gotten to watch a team grow and develop much more than I ever anticipated.

These
past four years have been definitive for the future of swimming at Pepperdine.
I've watched each year as recruits have gotten faster and faster and more
passionate about swimming. I've been pushed harder by each class of freshmen
that has come to our team. To be a part of such an incredible era of growth has
been a blessing and I look forward to watching this program thrive even more in
the future.

When
I was a high school senior, I wasn't sure what swimming would mean to me in the
future. As a college senior, it now means much, much more than best times and
scoring points. Swimming as a Wave has given me purpose and shaped me into much
more than just a strong athlete. To get to spend every day with people who want
to succeed and want to see each other succeed is an experience like no other,
and I head into this final meet knowing that whatever happens in the pool, my
college swimming career has been the most fulfilling commitment of my life.